Mail brings some much-needed love from Stockton fan

This week's mail brought a nice letter from a Utah resident that started with these words:

Mike Klocke

This week's mail brought a nice letter from a Utah resident that started with these words:

"My name is Larry Landward, and I love Stockton! Not many people, according to the national news, will say that."

He was born in Stockton in 1940. His father built the family home on West Euclid Street - doing the work at night after earning his keep at the Chamber of Commerce during the day.

Larry talked about making money shining shoes in front of the bookstore at the (then) College of the Pacific campus.

Larry continued: "One afternoon I learned that if I went to the back of the Stockton Record building I could buy newspapers for seven cents and then take them onto California Street and sell them on the corner for 10 cents. That was money! It didn't take long to figure out that if I stood nearer City Hall, or nearer the bars, I could get tips.

"Sometimes men would give me a quarter, and then if I went inside the bars men would sometimes give me a 50-cent piece. Once I was given a dollar inside the bar, and when I went home to share the good news my mother told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was not to do that ever again."

Larry waxed poetically about other things to do with life in Stockton, and ended with this benediction:

"I tell you this only to affirm that, after all these years and the changing of things from the way they used to be, Stockton is still a good city with good people and will always hold a special place in my heart."

With a city-future-deciding bankruptcy trial just a few weeks away (March 25 start), Mayor Anthony Silva and Councilwoman Kathy Miller got into a little verbal joust at last week's Stockton City Council meeting.

Sure, the thing came off as childish. But disagreements and public displays of such are anything but rare in local politics. And sometimes they can be beneficial. We don't need - or want - our leaders to stroll along in lock-step agreement all the time.

Former Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto had some strong disagreements with his colleagues from the dais. Former San Joaquin Supervisor Dario Marenco was legendary in calling out some of those with whom he served.

Tuesday's Miller vs. Silva row seemed orchestrated - Miller strategically saved her salvo for the end of the meeting. And the mayor harkened back to his days on the Stockton Unified Board of Trustees with some juvenile responses.

Silva's "pick up a cellphone and call if you have questions" response to Miller's complaints about the mayor's clandestine tax initiative plans was petty. His retort about those "pining" for former Mayor Ann Johnston, whom he defeated in November, was immature (although laced with a healthy amount of truth).

Miller's frustration with the mayor's approach on a tax initiative is understandable, although her 24-hour deadline for details is ironic given the wait was 631 days - or 15,144 hours - between when Mayor Johnston announced her intention of a crime Marshall Plan at a State of the City address and when the plan roll-out meeting was actually held (Feb. 8).

The spats between Silva and other council members could escalate when you blend two distinct realities - Silva got almost 60 percent of the vote in routing Johnston, but he doesn't have a lot of support from the other council members.

And so we move onward. Or at least attempt to do so.

» I got to - had to? - spend a couple of hours as the San Joaquin Courthouse the other day for a hearing. Here's reporting that the more things change, the more they stay the same: The place is a dump, a logistical nightmare in the hallways despite everyone's best efforts, and the good people who work there each day deserve better. Build that new courthouse - pronto, please.

» St. George Parish School teacher Ruth Byrd brought her classes by for tours of The Record for many years in a row. Her students were always polite, inquisitive and thoughtful. It was with great sadness that I heard of Ruth's recent passing. She was 69 years old.

» Bob Thomason's last game as Pacific men's basketball coach happened Saturday, complete with well-deserved festivities. We've written so much about his departure that I can only add these words: May your career last at least a couple more weeks (meaning an NCAA Tournament berth).

Contact Record Editor Mike Klocke at (209) 546-8250 or mklocke@recordnet.com.

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